This player's luck brightened due to the ouster of Gill and Rahul! Runs are being scored at an average of 71.33, sure to play in the fourth ODI

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IND vs NZ: It is almost certain that Team India's right-handed batsman Rituraj Gaikwad will get a chance in the playing eleven in the fourth ODI match to be played between India and New Zealand on November 13 at Mount Maunganui. Due to preparations for the upcoming Test series, regular captain Shubman Gill and wicketkeeper batsman KL Rahul have been rested from the last two ODIs, thereby freeing up space in the Indian batting order. In such a situation, Gaikwad, who is in excellent form, will have every opportunity to capitalize on this golden opportunity. Let us understand with the help of statistics how brilliant has been the performance of Rituraj Gaikwad in ODI cricket in the last one year.

Gaikwad's batting has changed in the last one year

Ruturaj Gaikwad's career in international ODI cricket can be seen in two different parts. From his debut till the year 2023, he had to struggle a lot to regain his form, but since the year 2025, he has made tremendous improvement in his game. In the last one year, he has emerged as one of the most reliable batsmen of Team India in the ODI format, where he has not only played big innings but has also scored runs at a fast pace.

See the performance from debut to 2023 vs 2025 onwards in statistics

From debut till the year 2023, Gaikwad played a total of 6 ODI matches, in which he was seen struggling to regain form. In those first 6 matches, he scored only 115 runs at an average of 19.16 and a slow strike rate of 73.24, which included only one half-century and no century.

However, in the next 6 ODI matches played from the year 2025 till now, Gaikwad has taken his game to a new level. During this period, he has scored almost double i.e. 214 runs and his batting average has increased to an excellent level of 71.33. Not only this, the pace of Gaikwad's play has also increased a lot and the strike rate has increased to 96.39. Whereas during this period he has scored one century and one half-century from his bat.

Which number will Gaikwad play in the fourth ODI?

Due to the absence of regular captain Shubman Gill and experienced wicketkeeper KL Rahul, there will be a big change in the Indian batting order in the fourth ODI. The team management will now have to come on the field with a new combination. If left-handed batsman Ishan Kishan gets a chance to open the innings with Rohit Sharma, then Rituraj Gaikwad can be given the responsibility of batting at number four or five in the middle order.

On the other hand, Gaikwad is an experienced opener and from IPL to domestic cricket, he has scored the most runs while opening. In such a situation, it is also possible that Team India should make him the new opening partner of Rohit Sharma and field Ishan Kishan in the middle order. Irrespective of the batting order, considering the excellent rhythm with which Gaikwad has been batting for some time now, a big and match-winning innings is fully expected from him in the fourth ODI.

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